Rack for sample tubes and reagent holders

ABSTRACT

A rack for holding samples and various reagents, wherein the rack may be used for loading the samples and reagents prior to using the reagents. The rack accepts complementary reagent holders, each of which contain a set of reagents for carrying out a predetermined processing operation, such as preparing biological samples for amplifying and detecting polynucleotides extracted from the samples.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/474,980, filed May 18, 2012, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/178,584, filed Jul. 23, 2008 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,182,763 on May 22, 2012, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/173,023, filed Jul. 14, 2008 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,133,671 on Mar. 13, 2012, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/959,437, filed Jul. 13, 2007. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/178,584, filed Jul. 23, 2008, is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/218,498, filed Jul. 14, 2008 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,186,677 on Nov. 17, 2015, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/959,437, filed Jul. 13, 2007. The disclosures of all of the above-referenced prior applications, publications, and patents are considered part of the disclosure of this application, and are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The technology described herein generally relates to racks for holding samples and various reagents, wherein the rack may be used for loading the samples and reagents prior to using the reagents. The technology more particularly relates to racks that accept complementary reagent holders each of which contain a set of reagents for carrying out a predetermined processing operation, such as preparing biological samples for amplifying and detecting polynucleotides extracted from the samples.

BACKGROUND

The medical diagnostics industry is a critical element of today's healthcare infrastructure. At present, however, diagnostic analyses no matter how routine have become a bottleneck in patient care. There are several reasons for this. First, many diagnostic analyses can only be done with highly specialist equipment that is both expensive and only operable by trained clinicians. Such equipment is found in only a few locations—often just one in any given urban area. This means that most hospitals are required to send out samples for analyses to these locations, thereby incurring shipping costs and transportation delays, and possibly even sample loss or mishandling Second, the equipment in question is typically not available ‘on-demand’ but instead runs in batches, thereby delaying the processing time for many samples because they must wait for a machine to fill up before they can be run.

Understanding that sample flow breaks down into several key steps, it would be desirable to consider ways to automate as many of these as possible. For example, a biological sample, once extracted from a patient, must be put in a form suitable for a processing regime that typically involves using PCR to amplify a vector of interest. Once amplified, the presence of a nucleotide of interest from the sample needs to be determined unambiguously. Preparing samples for PCR is currently a time-consuming and labor intensive step, though not one requiring specialist skills, and could usefully be automated. By contrast, steps such as PCR and nucleotide detection have customarily only been within the compass of specially trained individuals having access to specialist equipment.

Sample preparation is labor intensive in part because of the number of reagents required, and the need for multiple liquid transfer (e.g., pipetting) operations. Furthermore, the reagents required are of sufficient variety that they typically require different handling from one another and are available from different vendors. Even where reagents can be collected together in a single holder and made ready for use, such as described in copending application Ser. No. 12/______, filed by ExpressMail on Jul. 14, 2008 (and entitled “Reagent Tube, Reagent Holder, and Kits Containing Same”, in the name of Wilson, et al.) and incorporated herein by reference, it would be beneficial to be able to set up a number of holders for use in batches, and to make them available to liquid dispensing tools that can operate on holders in parallel.

The discussion of the background herein is included to explain the context of the inventions described herein. This is not to be taken as an admission that any of the material referred to was published, known, or part of the common general knowledge as at the priority date of any of the claims.

Throughout the description and claims of the specification the word “comprise” and variations thereof, such as “comprising” and “comprises”, is not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps.

SUMMARY

A rack, comprising: a housing; a plurality of lanes in the housing, and wherein each lane of the plurality of lanes comprises: a first location configured to accept a sample tube; and a second location, configured to accept a reagent holder; and a registration member complementary to a receiving bay of a diagnostic apparatus.

A rack, wherein the registration member comprises two or more positioning pins configured to: ensure that the rack can only be placed in the diagnostic apparatus in a single orientation; and provide stability for the rack when placed in the diagnostic apparatus.

A rack configured to receive a plurality of reagent holders, and to receive a plurality of sample tubes, wherein the reagent holders are in one-to-one correspondence with the sample tubes, and wherein the reagent holders each contain sufficient reagents to extract polynucleotides from the sample and place the polynucleotides into a PCR-ready form, and wherein the rack is configured to be insertable into, and removable from, an apparatus that carries out PCR on the PCR-ready polynucleotides.

A method of carrying out sample preparation on multiple samples in parallel, wherein reagents for carrying out preparation on each sample are contained in respective reagent holders, the holders being supported by a rack, as further described herein. The method, can be carried out automatically by a diagnostic apparatus in which the rack is situated, or can be carried out manually, when the rack is positioned on a horizontal surface, e.g., a laboratory benchtop.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows perspective views of an exemplary rack for samples and reagent holders.

FIG. 2 shows perspective views of a heater unit and the rack of FIG. 1 positioned in conjunction with the heater unit.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of an exemplary rack for samples and reagent holders.

FIGS. 4A-4K show various views of the rack of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 shows an area of a diagnostic apparatus configured to accept a rack of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of an exemplary rack, carrying a number of sample tubes and reagent holders, and positioned in a diagnostic apparatus.

FIGS. 7A and 7B show an exemplary embodiment of a reagent holder having a pipette sheath, in perspective view (FIG. 7A) and underside view (FIG. 7B).

FIG. 8 shows a schematic of an automated apparatus configured to carry out sample preparation using a rack as described herein.

Like reference numerals in the various drawings indicate like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Described herein are racks for supporting, carrying, and transporting reagents for various purposes, in particular in connection with sample preparation in a clinical context. The rack permits placement of one or more sample tubes and one or more corresponding holders of reagents, such as analyte specific reagents (ASR's) and/or sample preparation reagents. The samples and holders, when so placed, are positioned to carry out liquid dispensing processes, associated with sample preparation such as for PCR, that minimize cross-sample contamination but permit multiple PCR preparations to be performed from multiple clinical samples, in batches, or in parallel. The racks are configured for use in an automated preparatory apparatus that can carry out sample preparation on samples in more than one holder positioned in a rack simultaneously.

The racks as described herein find particular application to analyzing any nucleic acid containing sample for any purpose, including but not limited to genetic testing, and clinical testing for various infectious diseases in humans.

In various embodiments, preparation of a PCR-ready sample for use in subsequent diagnosis, can include one or more of the following steps: contacting a neutralized polynucleotide sample with a PCR reagent mixture comprising a polymerase enzyme and a plurality of nucleotides (in some embodiments, the PCR reagent mixture can further include a positive control plasmid and a fluorogenic hybridization probe selective for at least a portion of the plasmid). In some embodiments, the PCR reagent mixture can be in the form of one or more lyophilized pellets, as stored in a container on a reagent holder, and the method can further include reconstituting the PCR pellet with liquid to create a PCR reagent mixture solution. The holders configured for use with racks as described herein provide, in a self-contained manner, all of the reagents required to prepare a PCR-ready sample, or, when delivered to a user in kit form, contain in conjunction with other packages all of the required reagents. Suitable reagents, and protocols for using the same in DNA and RNA extractions can be found in, respectively, copending application Ser. Nos. 12/172,208, and 12/172,214, both filed Jul. 11, 2008 and incorporated herein by reference.

The racks herein are typically configured for use by an apparatus that carries out automated sample preparation, for example, on multiple samples simultaneously. An exemplary form of such an apparatus is further described herein, and can also be found described in U.S. provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/959,437, filed Jul. 13, 2007, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, and in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/173,023, filed on Jul. 14, 2008 (and entitled “Integrated Apparatus for Performing Nucleic Acid Extraction and Diagnostic Testing on Multiple Biological Samples”, in the name of Williams, et al.), incorporated by reference herein.

Rack

The racks herein are typically configured to be insertable into, and removable from, a diagnostic or preparatory apparatus, each of the racks being further configured to receive a plurality of reagent holders, and to receive a plurality of sample tubes, wherein the reagent holders are in one-to-one correspondence with the sample tubes, and wherein the reagent holders each contain sufficient reagents to extract polynucleotides from a sample and place the polynucleotides into a PCR-ready form. Exemplary reagent holders are further described elsewhere herein and also in copending application Ser. No. 12/______, filed by ExpressMail on Jul. 14, 2008 (and entitled “Reagent Tube, Reagent Holder, and Kits Containing Same”, in the name of Wilson, et al.) and incorporated herein by reference. An exemplary apparatus is outlined herein, and also described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/173,023, filed on Jul. 14, 2008 (and entitled “Integrated Apparatus for Performing Nucleic Acid Extraction and Diagnostic Testing on Multiple Biological Samples”, in the name of Williams, et al.), incorporated by reference herein.

Two perspective views of an exemplary rack 800, configured to accept 12 sample tubes and 12 corresponding reagent holders, in 12 lanes 850, are shown in FIG. 1. A lane 850, as used herein in the context of a rack, is a dedicated region of the rack designed to receive a sample tube and corresponding reagent holder. In the accompanying drawings, not all visible lanes are labeled; usually one lane or a pair of lanes in a given view is given reference number 850. Two perspective views of the same exemplary rack, in conjunction with a heater unit, as further described herein, are shown in FIG. 2.

A rack may accept 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 16, or 20 samples such as in sample tubes 802, and a corresponding number of holders 804. Thus the embodiment of FIG. 1 configured to receive 12 samples and 12 corresponding reagent holders is exemplary.

A rack is typically configured to accept a number of reagent holders 804, such as those further described herein, the rack being configured to hold one or more such holders, either permitting access on a laboratory benchtop to reagents stored in the holders, or situated in a dedicated region of the apparatus permitting the holders to be accessed by one or more other functions of the apparatus, such as automated pipetting, heating of the process tubes, and magnetic separating of affinity beads. Typically holders 804 each have at least one or more pipette tips, and one or more containers for reagents.

Various views of a second exemplary rack 800, also configured to accept 12 sample tubes and 12 reagent holders, are shown in FIGS. 3, and FIGS. 4A-4K. Thus, the following views are shown: side plan (FIG. 4A); front plan, showing sample tubes (FIG. 4B); rear plan, showing reagent holders (FIG. 4C); rear elevation, showing reagent holders (FIG. 4D); front elevation, showing sample tubes (FIG. 4E); top, showing insertion of a reagent holder (FIGS. 4F and 4G); top showing slot for inserting a reagent holder (FIG. 4H); top view showing registration of reagent holder (FIG. 4I); close up of rack in state of partial insertion/removal from apparatus (FIG. 4J); and rack held by handle, removed from apparatus (FIG. 4K).

In FIG. 4J, two racks are visible: rack 800-1 is shown (in part) in position inserted fully into an apparatus 981; rack 800-2 is shown in a state of partial insertion or removal from apparatus 981. A recessed area, such as a receiving bay, in a diagnostic or preparatory apparatus 981, as further described herein, for accepting the exemplary removable rack of FIG. 3 is shown in FIG. 5. A rack, as shown in FIG. 3, situated in the recessed area of FIG. 5 is shown in FIG. 6, in location, in relation to a receiving bay 992 holding a microfluidic cartridge 994 that can be configured to carry out an amplification on a suitably prepared sample, as further described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/173,023, filed on Jul. 14, 2008 (and entitled “Integrated Apparatus for Performing Nucleic Acid Extraction and Diagnostic Testing on Multiple Biological Samples”, in the name of Williams, et al.). Other suitably configured recessed areas for receiving other racks differing in shape, appearance, and form, rather than function, are consistent with the description herein.

The two exemplary racks shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 being non-limiting, general features of racks contemplated herein are now described using the two exemplary racks as illustrative thereof. For example, in the embodiments shown here, at least the first lane and the second lane are parallel to one another, a configuration that increases pipetting efficiency. Typically, when parallel to one another, pairs of adjacent sample lanes 850 are separated by 24 mm at their respective midpoints. Other distances are possible, such as 18 mm apart, or 27 mm apart. The distance between the midpoints in dependent on the pitch of the nozzles in the liquid dispensing head, as further described herein. Keeping the spacing in multiples of 9 mm enables easy loading from the rack into a 96 well plate (where typically wells are spaced apart by 9 mm). Typically, also, the rack is such that the plurality of reagent holders in the plurality of lanes are maintained at the same height relative to one another.

The rack is configured to accept a given reagent holder in such a way that the reagent holder snaps or locks reversibly into place, and thereby remains steady while reagents are accessed in it, and while the rack is being carried from one place to another or is being inserted into, or removed from, a diagnostic apparatus.

In each embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 3, each of the second locations in the respective lanes comprises a mechanical key configured to accept the reagent holder in a single orientation. In FIG. 1, it is shown that the reagent holder(s) slide horizontally into vertically oriented slots, one per holder, located in the rack. In such an embodiment, the edge of a connecting member on the holder engages with a complementary groove in the upper portion of a slot. In FIGS. 4F, 4G, and 4I, it is shown that the reagent holder(s) can engage with the rack via a mechanical key that keeps the holders steady and in place. For example, the mechanical key can comprise a raised or recessed portion that, when engaging with a complementary portion of the reagent holder, permits the reagent holder to snap into the second location. It can also be seen in the embodiments shown that the reagent holder has a first end and a second end, and the mechanical key comprises a first feature configured to engage with the first end, and a second feature configured to engage with the second end in such a way that a reagent holder cannot be inserted into the rack the wrong way around. In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 8H, a sprung metal tab 833 positioned inside the slot serves to keep the holder tightly in place against a stop at the opposite end of the slot.

In certain embodiments the reagent holders each lock into place in the rack, such as with a cam locking mechanism that is recognized as locked audibly and/or physically, or such as with a mechanical key.

The rack can be configured so that the holders, when positioned in it, are aligned for proper pipette tip pick-up using a liquid dispenser as further described herein. Furthermore, the second location of each lane can be deep enough to accommodate one or more pipette tips, such as contained in a pipette tip sheath.

In certain embodiments, the rack is configured to accept the samples in individual sample tubes 802, each mounted adjacent to a corresponding holder 804, for example on one side of rack 800. The sample tubes can be accessible to a sample identification verifier such as a bar code reader, as further described herein. In FIG. 1, a sample tube is held at its bottom by a cylindrical receiving member. In FIG. 3, it is shown that a sample tube can be held at both its top and bottom, such as by a recessed portion 803 configured to receive a bottom of a sample tube, and an aperture 805 configured to hold an upper portion of the sample tube. The aperture can be a ring or an open loop, or a hole in a metal sheet. The recessed portion can be as in FIG. 3, wherein it is an angled sheet of metal housing having a hole large enough to accommodate a sample tube. In alternate embodiments, a sample tube may be held at its lower portion by a member having an aperture and located above a base member on which the bottom of the sample tube rests.

The rack can be designed so that it can be easily removed from the apparatus and carried to and from the laboratory environment external to the apparatus, such as a bench, and the apparatus, for example, to permit easy loading of the sample tube(s) and the reagent holder(s) into the rack. In certain embodiments, the rack is designed to be stable on a horizontal surface, and not easily toppled over during carriage, and, to this end, the rack has one or more (such as 2, 3, 4, 6, 8) feet 809. In certain embodiments, the rack has a handle 806 to ease lifting and moving, and as shown in FIG. 1, the handle can be locked into a vertical position, during carriage, also to reduce risk of the rack being toppled over. The handle can optionally have a soft grip 808 in its middle. In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the carrying handle is positioned about an axis displaced from an axis passing through the center of gravity of the rack when loaded, and is free to fall to a position flush with an upper surface of the rack, under its own weight.

The embodiment of FIG. 1 has a metallic base member 810 having 4 feet 811 that also serve as position locators when inserting the rack into the dedicated portion of the apparatus. The handle is attached to the base member, but other attachments for a handle are possible. The portion of the rack 812 that accepts the samples and holders can be made of plastic, and comprises 12 slots, and may be disposable.

In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the rack comprises a housing, a plurality of lanes in the housing, and wherein each lane of the plurality of lanes comprises: a first location 851 configured to accept a sample tube; and a second location 852, configured to accept a reagent holder; and a registration member complementary to a receiving bay of a diagnostic apparatus. Typically, the housing is made of a metal, such as aluminum, that is both light but also can be machined to high tolerance and is sturdy enough to ensure that the rack remains stable when located in the diagnostic apparatus. The registration member in FIG. 3 comprises four (4) tight tolerance pegs 815, located one per corner of the rack. Such pegs are such that they fit snugly and tightly into complementary holes in a receiving area, such as a recessed area, of the apparatus and thereby stabilize the rack. Other embodiments having, for example, 2, or 3, or greater than 4 such pegs are consistent with the embodiments herein.

In particular, the housing in the embodiment of FIG. 3 comprises a horizontal member 821, and two or more vertical members 822 connected to the horizontal member, and is such that the second location 852 of each respective lane is a recessed portion within the horizontal member. The two or more vertical members 809 in the embodiment of FIG. 3 are configured to permit the rack to free stand thereon. The housing may further comprise two or more feet or runners, attached symmetrically to the first and second vertical members and giving the rack additional stability when positioned on a laboratory bench top.

Furthermore, in the embodiment of FIG. 3, the housing further comprises a plurality of spacer members 825, each of which is disposed between a pair of adjacent lanes. Optionally, such spacer members may be disposed vertically between the lanes.

Although not shown in the FIGs., a rack can further comprise a lane identifier associated with each lane. A lane identifier may be a permanent or temporary marking such as a unique number or letter, or can be an RFID, or bar-code, or may be a colored tag unique to a particular lane.

A rack is configured so that it can be easily placed at the appropriate location in a diagnostic apparatus and gives the user positive feedback, such as audibly or physically, that it is placed correctly. In certain embodiments, the rack can be locked into position. It is desirable that the rack be positioned correctly, and not permitted to move thereafter, so that movement of the liquid dispenser will not be compromised during liquid handling operations. The rack therefore has a registration member to ensure proper positioning. In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the registration member comprises two or more positioning pins configured to ensure that the rack can only be placed in the diagnostic apparatus in a single orientation; and provide stability for the rack when placed in the diagnostic apparatus. The embodiment of FIG. 3 has, optionally, a sensor actuator 817 configured to indicate proper placement of the rack in the diagnostic apparatus. Such a sensor may communicate with a processor 980 to provide the user with a warning, such as an audible warning, or a visual warning communicated via an interface, if the rack is not seated correctly. It may also be configured to prevent a sample preparation process from initiating or continuing if a seating error is detected.

In certain embodiments, the interior of the rack around the location of process tubes in the various holders is configured to have clearance for a heater assembly and/or a magnetic separator as further described herein. For example, the rack is configured so that process chambers on the individual holders are accepted by heater units in a heater assembly as further described herein.

Having a removable rack enables a user to keep a next rack loaded with samples and in line while a previous rack of samples is being processed by the apparatus, so that thereby the apparatus usage time and throughput is maximized.

The rack can also be conveniently cleaned outside of the instrument in case of any sample or reagent spills over it or just as a routine maintenance of laboratory wares.

In certain embodiments the racks have one or more disposable parts.

Reagent Holders

Described herein are reagent holders for holding and transporting reagents for various purposes, in particular sample preparation in a clinical context, and configured to be received by a rack as described herein. The reagent holders also typically provide a container in which various reagents can be mixed one with another and/or with a sample. The reagent holders typically permit snapping in of one or more tubes of analyte specific reagents (ASR's) and/or sample preparation reagents, and carrying out liquid dispensing processes, associated with sample preparation, that minimize cross-sample contamination but permit multiple PCR preparations to be performed from a single clinical sample. The holders are also configured for use in an automated preparatory apparatus that can carry out sample preparation on samples in more than one holder simultaneously.

FIGS. 7A and 7B show views of an exemplary holder 804 as further described herein. This exemplary holder, as well as others consistent with the written description herein though not shown as specific embodiments, are now described.

The exemplary holder shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B can also be referred to as a “unitized disposable strip”, or a “unitized strip”, because it is intended to be used as a single unit that is configured to hold all of the reagents and receptacles necessary to perform a sample preparation, and because it is laid out in a strip format. It is consistent with the description herein, though, that other geometric arrangements of the various receptacles of the holder are contemplated, so that the description is not limited to a linear, or strip, arrangement, but can include a circular or grid arrangement. Accordingly, a rack as described herein can alternatively be configured to accept reagent holders that adopt other shapes than strips. Alternative shapes could be square, rectangular, and circular.

The exemplary holder of FIG. 7A comprises a connecting member 510 having one or more characteristics as follows. Connecting member 510 serves to connect various components of the holder together. Connecting member 510 has an upper side 512 and, opposed to the upper side, an underside 514.

The reagent holder of FIG. 7A is configured to comprise: a process tube 520 affixed to the connecting member and having an aperture 522 located in the connecting member; at least one socket 530, located in the connecting member, the socket configured to accept a disposable pipette tip 580; an optional pipette sheath 570 as further described herein; two or more reagent tubes 540 disposed on the underside of the connecting member, each of the reagent tubes having an inlet aperture 542 located in the connecting member; and one or more receptacles 550, located in the connecting member, wherein the one or more receptacles are each configured to receive a complementary container such as a reagent tube (not shown) inserted from the upper side 512 of the connecting member. The lanes of the rack described herein are designed to have sufficient depth and width to accommodate the various reagent tubes, receptacles, process tube, and pipette sheath of a given reagent holder.

In FIG. 7B, a view of underside 514 is shown, having various struts 597 connecting a rim of the connecting member with variously the sockets, process tube, and reagent tubes. Struts 597 are optional, and may be omitted all or in part, or may be substituted by, in all or in part, other supporting pieces that connect various parts of the holder to one another.

The one or more receptacles 550 are configured to accept reagent tubes that contain, respectively, sufficient quantities of one or more reagents typically in solid form, such as in lyophilized form, for carrying out extraction of nucleic acids from a sample that is associated with the holder. The receptacles can be all of the same size and shape, or may be of different sizes and shapes from one another. Receptacles 550 are shown as having open bottoms, but are not limited to such topologies, and may be closed other than the inlet 552 in the upper side of connecting member 510. Preferably the receptacles 550 are configured to accept commonly used containers in the field of laboratory analysis, or containers suitably configured for use with the holder herein. The containers are typically stored separately from the holders to facilitate sample handling, since solid reagents normally require different storage conditions from liquid reagents. In particular many solid reagents may be extremely moisture sensitive.

The snapped-in reagent tubes containing different reagents may be of different colors, or color-coded for easy identification by the user. For example they may be made of different color material, such as tinted plastic, or may have some kind of identifying tag on them, such as a color stripe or dot. They may also have a label printed on the side, and/or may have an identifier such as a barcode on a sealing layer on their respective tops.

The containers 554 received by the receptacles 550 may alternatively be an integrated part of the holder and may be the same type of container as the waste chamber and/or the reagent tube(s), or may be different therefrom.

In one embodiment, the containers 554 containing lyophilized reagents, disposed in the receptacles 550, are 0.3 ml tubes that have been further configured to have a star-shaped pattern on their respective bottom interior surfaces. This is so that when a fluid has been added to the lyophilized reagents (which are dry in the initial package), a pipette tip can be bottomed out in the tube and still be able to withdraw almost the entire fluid from the tube. The design of the star-pattern is further described elsewhere in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/______, filed on even date herewith, and entitled “Reagent Tube”, in the name of Handique et al., which application is incorporated herein by reference.

The embodiment of a reagent holder 804 is shown configured with a waste chamber 560, having an inlet aperture 562 in the upper side of the connecting member. Waste chamber 560 is optional and, in embodiments where it is present, is configured to receive spent liquid reagents. In other embodiments, where it is not present, spent liquid reagents can be transferred to and disposed of at a location outside of the holder, such as, for example, a sample tube that contained the original sample whose contents are being analyzed. Waste chamber 560 is shown as part of an assembly comprising additionally two or more reagent tubes 540. It would be understood that such an arrangement is done for convenience, e.g., of manufacture; other locations of the waste chamber are possible, as are embodiments in which the waste chamber is adjacent a reagent tube, but not connected to it other than via the connecting member.

The embodiment of a reagent holder 804 is shown having a pipette sheath 570. This is an optional component of the holders described herein. It may be permanently or removably affixed to connecting member 510, or may be formed; e.g., moulded, as a part of a single piece assembly for the holder. Pipette sheath 570 is typically configured to surround the at least one socket and a tip and lower portion of a pipette tip when the pipette tip is stationed in the at least one socket. In some embodiments, the at least one socket comprises four sockets. In some embodiments the at least one socket comprises two, three, five, or six sockets.

Pipette sheath 570 typically is configured to have a bottom 576 and a walled portion 578 disposed between the bottom and the connecting member. Pipette sheath 570 may additionally and optionally have one or more cut-out portions 572 in the wall 578, or in the bottom 576. Such cutouts provide ventilation for the pipette tips and also reduce the total amount of material used in manufacture of the holder, and may have various numbers, positions, shapes and sizes, as further described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/______, filed by ExpressMail on Jul. 14, 2008, entitled “Reagent Tube, Reagent Holder, and Kits Containing Same”, in the name of Wilson, et al., and incorporated herein by reference.

In embodiments having a pipette sheath, a purpose of the sheath is to catch drips from used pipette tips, and thereby to prevent cross-sample contamination, from use of one holder to another in a similar location, and/or to any supporting rack in which the holder is situated. Typically, then, the bottom 576 is solid and bowl-shaped (concave) so that drips are retained within it. An embodiment having no pipette sheath, could utilize, e.g., a drip tray or a drainage outlet, suitably placed beneath pipette tips located in the one or more sockets, for the same purpose and located under or in the bottom of the rack, as described herein. In addition to catching drips, the pipette tip sheath prevents or inhibits the tips of other reagent holders—such as those that are situated adjacent to the one in question in a rack as further described herein—from touching each other when the tips are picked up and/or dropped off before or after some liquid processing step. Contact between tips in adjacent holders is generally not intended by, for example, an automated dispensing head that controls sample processing on holders in parallel, but the pipette tips being long can easily touch a tip in a nearby holder if the angle when dropping off of the tip deviates slightly from vertical.

Process tube 520 can also be a snap-in tube, rather than being part of an integrated piece. Process tube 520 is typically used for various mixing and reacting processes that occur during sample preparation. For example, cell lysis can occur in process tube 520, as can extraction of nucleic acids, such as DNA or RNA of a patient, and DNA or RNA of a pathogen. Process tube 520 is then advantageously positioned in a location that minimizes, overall, pipette head moving operations involved with transferring liquids to process tube 520. Process tube 520 is also located in the holder in such a position that, when the holder is inserted in a rack as further described herein, the process tube is exposed and accessible to a heater and separator, as further described herein.

Some of the reagents contained in the holder are provided as liquids, and others may be provided as solids. In some embodiments, a different type of container or tube is used to store liquids from those that store the solids.

Reagent tubes 540 are typically configured to hold liquid reagents, one per tube. For example, in reagent holder embodiment 804, three reagent tubes are shown, containing respectively wash buffer, release buffer, and neutralization buffer, each of which is used in a sample preparation protocol.

Reagent tubes 540 that hold liquids or liquid reagents can be sealed with a laminate structure 598 to facilitate long term storage. The laminate structure typically has a heat seal layer, a plastic layer such as a layer of polypropylene, and a layer of metal such as aluminum foil, wherein the heat seal layer is adjacent the one or more reagent tubes. The additional plastic film that is used in a laminate for receptacles that contain liquid reagents is typically to prevent liquid from contacting the aluminum. Various embodiments of a laminate structure are described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/______, filed by ExpressMail on Jul. 14, 2008, entitled “Reagent Tube, Reagent Holder, and Kits Containing Same”, in the name of Wilson, et al., and incorporated herein by reference. In some embodiments, a raised flat portion 599 facilitates application and removal of laminate 598. Raised surface 599, on the upper side of the connecting member, and surrounding the inlet apertures to the reagent tubes and, optionally, the waste chamber, is an optional feature of the holder.

The containers that hold solid, such as lyophilized reagents, can be sealed across their tops by a metal foil, such as an aluminum foil, with no plastic lining layer, as further described herein.

The reagent holder 804 has a connecting member that is configured so that the at least one socket, the one or more receptacles, and the respective apertures of the process tube, and the two or more reagent tubes, are all arranged linearly with respect to one another (i.e., their midpoints lie on the same axis). However, the holders herein are not limited to particular configurations of receptacles, process tube, sockets, reagent tubes, and waste chamber if present. For example, a holder may be made shorter, if some apertures are staggered with respect to one another and occupy ‘off-axis’ positions. The various receptacles, etc., also do not need to occupy positions with respect to one another that are the same as those shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B. Thus, in FIGS. 7A, and 7B, the process tube is on one end of the connecting member, and the pipette sheath is at the other end, adjacent to, in an interior position, a waste chamber and two or more reagent tubes. Still other dispositions are possible, such as mounting the process tube on one end of the holder, mounting the process tube adjacent the pipette tips and pipette tip sheath (as further described herein), and mounting the waste tube adjacent the process tube. It would be understood that alternative configurations of the various parts of the holder give rise only to variations of form and can be accommodated within other variations of the apparatus as described, including but not limited to alternative instruction sets for a liquid dispensing pipette head, heater assembly, and magnetic separator, as further described herein. Each such configuration of the reagent holder can be accommodated by a corresponding variation in form of the rack described herein that receives one or more such holders.

The materials of the various tubes and chambers may be configured to have at least an interior surface smoothness and surface coating to reduce binding of DNA and other macromolecules thereto. Binding of DNA is unwanted because of the reduced sensitivity that is likely to result in subsequent detection and analysis of the DNA that is not trapped on the surface of the holder.

The process tube also may have a low binding surface, and allows magnetic beads to slide up and down the inside wall easily without sticking to it. Moreover, it has a hydrophobic surface coating enabling low stiction of fluid and hence low binding of nucleic acids and other molecules.

In some embodiments, the holder comprises a registration member such as a mechanical key. Typically such a key is part of the connecting member 510. A mechanical key ensures that the holder is accepted by a complementary member in, for example, a supporting rack as described herein or a receiving bay of an apparatus that controls pipetting operations on reagents in the holder. A mechanical key is normally a particular-shaped cut-out that matches a corresponding cutout or protrusion in a rack or receiving apparatus. Thus, embodiment 804 has a mechanical key 592 that comprises a pair of rectangular-shaped cut-outs on one end of the connecting member. This feature as shown additionally provides for a tab by which a user may gain a suitable purchase when inserting and removing the holder into a rack or another apparatus. Embodiment 804 also has a mechanical key 590 at the other end of connecting member 510. Key 590 is an angled cutout that eases insertion of the holder into a rack, as well as ensures a good registration therein when abutting a complementary angled cut out in a recessed area configured to receive the holder. Other variations of a mechanical key are, of course, consistent with the description herein: for example, curved cutouts, or various combinations of notches or protrusions all would facilitate secure registration of the holder.

In some embodiments, not shown in FIGS. 7A, 7B, the holder further comprises an identifier affixed to the connecting member. The identifier may be a label, such as a writable label, a bar-code, a 2-dimensional bar-code, or an RFID tag. The identifier can be, e.g., for the purpose of revealing quickly what combination of reagents is present in the holder and, thus, for what type of sample preparation protocol it is intended. The identifier may also indicate the batch from which the holder was made, for quality control or record-keeping purposes. The identifier may also permit a user to match a particular holder with a particular sample.

It should also be considered consistent with the description herein that a holder additionally can be configured to accept a sample, such as in a sample tube. Thus, in embodiments described elsewhere herein, a rack accepts a number of sample tubes and a number of corresponding holders in such a manner that the sample tubes and holders can be separately and independently loaded from one another. Nevertheless, in other embodiments, a holder can be configured to also accept a sample, for example in a sample tube. And thus, a complementary rack is configured to accept a number of holders, wherein each holder has a sample as well as reagents and other items. In such an embodiment, the holder is configured so that the sample is accessible to a sample identification verifier.

A reagent holder for use with a rack as described herein is typically made of a plastic such as polypropylene. The plastic is such that it has some flexibility to facilitate placement into a rack, as further described herein. The plastic is typically sufficiently rigid, however, so that the holder will not significantly sag or flex under its own weight and will not easily deform during routine handling and transport, and thus will not permit reagents to leak out from it.

The holder is typically such that the connecting member, process tube, the two or more reagent tubes, and the waste chamber (if present) are made from a single piece, made from a material such as polypropylene.

The reagent holder for use herein is also typically such that at least the process tube, and the two or more reagent tubes are translucent.

The reagent holders can be disposable, such as intended for a single use, following which it is discarded.

Liquid Dispenser

Additionally, the holders herein are configured, when received by a rack as described elsewhere herein, to accept pipette operations both performed manually by an operator, and by an automated pipette head. An exemplary automated pipette head is described in U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/959,437, filed Jul. 13, 2008, and in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/173,023, filed Jul. 14, 2008, entitled “Integrated Apparatus for Performing Nucleic Acid Extraction and Diagnostic Testing on Multiple Biological Samples”, in the name of Williams, et al., both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Typical features of an automated pipette head suitable for operating with holders as described herein include at least: an ability to pick up pipette tips from the one or more sockets, and to return pipette tips to such sockets after use; to strip and discard a pipette tip from a pipette head after use or upon encountering an error; move a pipette tip with precision from one location of a given holder to another so that, for example, liquid reagents can be located and added to solid reagents to make up solutions, and various liquid reagents can be mixed with one another during a sample preparation protocol. Furthermore, it is desirable that such an automated pipette device can operate on several, such as 2, 3, 4, or 6, holders simultaneously when received by a rack, and thereby perform certain operations in parallel. Thus the pipette head should move in three degrees of freedom.

Heater Assembly & Magnetic Separator

The racks as described herein are configured such that reagent holders are positioned so that the process tube is heated by a dedicated heating unit 977, for example situated in an apparatus for carrying out sample preparation on multiple samples in parallel, as shown in FIG. 2. Typically such a heater assembly comprises one or more independently controllable heater units 1010, each of which comprises a heat block configured to heat a process tube in a reagent holder situated in the rack, as further described herein. In one embodiment, a heat element is a power resistor. The right hand panel of FIG. 2 shows how holders loaded in a rack can be positioned in close proximity to a dedicated heating unit. The heating unit is configured to heat the process tube in each of one or more reagent holders positioned in the rack, without unduly heating other portions of the rack, or other containers associated with the reagent holders.

Yet additionally, the holders herein are configured so that the process tube is in close enough proximity to a magnetic assembly that separation of magnetic particles from reagents in solution in the process tube can be accomplished. An exemplary magnetic separator is configured to move one or more magnets relative to the one or more process tubes. Typically, the magnet is mounted in such a way that it can be moved in proximity to the process tubes, either in an automated fashion such as under control of a processor, or manually. The magnet can be made of neodymium (e.g., from K &J Magnetics, Inc.) and can have a magnetic strength of 5,000-15,000 Gauss (Brmax). The poles of the magnets can be arranged such that one pole faces the heat blocks and the other faces away from the heat blocks.

Advantageously, the heater assembly and magnetic separator operate together to permit successive heating and separation operations to be performed on liquid materials in the one or more process tubes without transporting either the liquid materials or the process tubes to different locations to perform either heating or separation. An exemplary heater assembly and magnetic separator are further described in U.S. provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/959,437, filed Jul. 13, 2008, and U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 12/173,023, filed Jul. 14, 2008, entitled “Integrated Apparatus for Performing Nucleic Acid Extraction and Diagnostic Testing on Multiple Biological Samples”, in the name of Williams, et al., and “12/______, entitled “Integrated Heater and Magnetic Separator”, in the name of Handique, filed on even date herewith, all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

Apparatus Overview

A schematic overview of an apparatus 981 for carrying out automated sample preparation on multiple samples in parallel, according to steps exemplified elsewhere herein, is shown in FIG. 8. The geometric arrangement of the components of system 981 is schematic and not intended to be limiting. The apparatus may additionally comprise (not shown in FIG. 8) a microfluidic cartridge, in a receiving bay, and configured to carry out a diagnostic test on the sample, such as by detecting presence of an amplified polynucleotide in the cartridge. Such additional features are also described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/173,023, filed on Jul. 14, 2008 (and entitled “Integrated Apparatus for Performing Nucleic Acid Extraction and Diagnostic Testing on Multiple Biological Samples”, in the name of Williams, et al.).

A processor 980, such as a microprocessor, is configured to control functions of various components of the system as shown, and is thereby in communication with each such component requiring control. It is to be understood that many such control functions can optionally be carried out manually, and not under control of the processor. Furthermore, the order in which the various functions are described, in the following, is not limiting upon the order in which the processor executes instructions when the apparatus is operating. Thus, processor 980 can be configured to receive data about a sample to be analyzed, e.g., from a sample reader 990, which may be a barcode reader, an optical character reader, or an RFID scanner (radio frequency tag reader).

Processor 980 can be configured to accept user instructions from an input device 984, where such instructions may include instructions to start analyzing the sample, and choices of operating conditions. Processor 980 can be also configured to communicate with a display 982, so that, for example, information about an analysis is transmitted to the display and thereby communicated to a user of the system. Such information includes but is not limited to: the current status of the apparatus; progress of PCR thermocycling; and a warning message in case of malfunction of either system or cartridge. Additionally, processor 980 may transmit one or more questions to be displayed on display 982 that prompt a user to provide input in response thereto. Thus, in certain embodiments, input 984 and display 982 are integrated with one another. Processor 980 can be optionally further configured to transmit results of an analysis to an output device 986 such as a printer, a visual display, a display that utilizes a holographic projection, or a speaker, or a combination thereof. Processor 980 can be still further optionally connected via a communication interface such as a network interface to a computer network 988.

Processor 980 can be further configured to control various aspects of sample preparation and diagnosis, as follows in overview. In FIGS. 11, the apparatus 981 is configured to operate in conjunction with a complementary rack 800. Apparatus 981 may be capable of receiving multiple racks, such as 1, 2, 3, 4, or 6 racks.

A rack 800 is itself configured, as further described herein, to receive a number of biological samples 996 in a form suitable for work-up and diagnostic analysis, and a number of holders 804—as further described herein, such as in connection with FIGS. 7A, 7B, that are equipped with various reagents, pipette tips and receptacles. The rack is configured so that, during sample work-up, samples are processed in the respective holders, the processing including being subjected, individually, to heating and cooling via heater assembly 977.

The heating functions of the heater assembly can be controlled by the processor 980. Heater assembly 977 operates in conjunction with a separator 978, such as a magnetic separator, that also can be controlled by processor 980 to move into and out of close proximity to one or more processing chambers associated with the holders 804, wherein particles such as magnetic particles are present.

Liquid dispenser 976, which similarly can be controlled by processor 980, is configured to carry out various suck and dispense operations on respective sample, fluids and reagents in the holders 804, to achieve extraction of nucleic acid from the samples. Liquid dispenser 976 can carry out such operations on multiple holders simultaneously. Sample reader 990 is configured to transmit identifying indicia about the sample, and in some instances the holder, to processor 980. In some embodiments a sample reader is attached to the liquid dispenser and can thereby read indicia about a sample above which the liquid dispenser is situated. In other embodiments the sample reader is not attached to the liquid dispenser and is independently movable, under control of the processor. Liquid dispenser 976 is also configured to take aliquots of fluid containing nucleic acid extracted from one or more samples and direct them to storage area 974, which may be a cooler. Area 974 contains, for example, a PCR tube corresponding to each sample.

Embodiments of the apparatus shown in outline in FIG. 8, as with other exemplary embodiments described herein, are advantageous because they do not require locations within the apparatus suitably configured for storage of reagents. Therefore, the apparatus in FIG. 8 is self-contained and operates in conjunction with holders 804, wherein the holders are pre-packaged with reagents, such as in locations within it dedicated to reagent storage.

The apparatus of FIG. 8 may be configured to carry out operation in a single location, such as a laboratory setting, or may be portable so that they can accompany, e.g., a physician, or other healthcare professional, who may visit patients at different locations. The apparatus is typically provided with a power-cord so that they can accept AC power from a mains supply or generator. The apparatus may also be configured to operate by using one or more batteries and therefore is also typically equipped with a battery recharging system, and various warning devices that alert a user if battery power is becoming too low to reliably initiate or complete a diagnostic analysis.

The apparatus of FIG. 8 may further be configured, in other embodiments, for multiplexed sample analysis and/or analysis of multiple batches of samples, where, e.g., a single rack holds a single batch of samples. Each component shown in FIG. 8 may therefore be present as many times as there are batches of samples, though the various components may be configured in a common housing.

The apparatus herein can be configured to run on a laboratory benchtop, or similar environment, and can test approximately 45 samples per hour when run continuously throughout a normal working day. Results from individual raw samples are typically available in less than 1 hour.

EXAMPLES Example 1 Reagent Holder

An exemplary reagent holder consistent with the description herein, and suitable for use with a rack as described herein, has the following dimensions and capacities:

-   180 mm long×22 mm wide×100 mm tall; -   Made from Polypropylene. -   One snapped-in low binding 1.7 ml tube that functions as a process     tube. -   3 built-in tubes that function as receptacles for reagents, as     follows:     -   One tube containing 200-1000 μl of wash buffer (0.1 mM Tris, pH         8).     -   One tube containing 200-1000 μl of release solution (40 mM         NaOH).     -   One tube containing 200-1000 μl of neutralization solution (330         mM Tris, pH 8.0). -   One built-in tube that functions as a waste chamber (will hold ˜4 ml     of liquid waste). -   3 receptacles to accept containers for solid reagents. Snap-in 0.3     ml or 0.65 ml PCR tubes (which are typically stored separately from     the reagent holder) are placed in each of these locations, and     contain, respectively:     -   lyophilized sample preparation reagents (lysis enzyme mix and         magnetic affinity beads).     -   First lyophilized PCR master mix, probes and primers for a first         target analyte detection.     -   Second lyophilized PCR master mix, probes and primers for a         second target analyte detection (only offered in select cases,         such as detection of Chlamydia and Gonorrhea from urine). -   4 pipette tips located in 4 respective sockets. -   Pipette Tip Sheath: The pipette tips have a sheath/drip tray     underneath to help capture any drip from the pipette tips after     being used, and also to prevent unwanted contamination of the     instrument. -   A mechanical key, in conjunction with a spring, allows easy     insertion, removal, and positive location of strip in rack. -   One or More Labels: positioned upward facing to facilitate ease of     reading by eye and/or, e.g., a bar-code reader, the one or more     labels containing human and machine readable information pertaining     to the analysis to be performed.

It is to be understood that these dimensions are exemplary. However, it is particularly desirable to ensure that a holder does not exceed these dimensions so that a rack and an apparatus that accommodates the reagent holder(s) does not become inconveniently large, and can be suitably situated in a laboratory, e.g., on a bench-top.

Example 2 Exemplary Chemistry Processes Performed by an Automated Instrument Sample Pre-processing

For Urine Sample: Take 0.5 ml of urine and mix it with 0.5 ml of collection buffer. Filter the sample through a pre-filter (containing two membranes of 10 micron and 3 micron pore size). Place the sample tube in the position specified for the external sample tube in a 12-holder rack.

For Plasma Sample: Take 0.5 ml of plasma and mix it with 0.5 ml of collection buffer. Place the sample tube in the position specified for the external sample tube in the 12-holder rack.

For GBS Swab Samples: Take the swab sample and dip it in 1 ml of collection buffer. Place the sample tube in the position specified for the external sample tube in the 12-holder rack.

The sample collection buffer contains 50 mM Tris pH 7, 1% Triton X-100, 20 mM Citrate, 20 mM Borate, 100 mM EDTA, plus 1,000 copies of positive control DNA.

Loading the Instrument and Starting Sample Processing

The following steps may be performed to initiate an analysis on samples in batch.

-   1. Load PCR tube containing PCR master mix in one of the specified     snap-in location of the reagent holder. -   2. Load PCR tube containing PCR probes and primers for the target     analyte under consideration in the specified location of the reagent     holder. -   3. In case of two analyte test, load PCR tube containing probes and     primers for second analyte in the specified location of the reagent     holder. -   4. Insert the reagent holder in a 12-holder rack in the same lane as     the sample tube under consideration. -   5. Prepare and insert reagent holders for other samples in     consideration. -   6. Load the 12-holder rack in one of the locations in the     instrument. -   7. Load a 12-sample cartridge in the cartridge tray loading     position. -   8. Start operation.

Liquid Processing Steps

The following steps may be performed to carry out sample preparation.

-   1. Using Pipette tip #1, the robot transfers the clinical sample     from the external sample tube to the process tube of the reagent     holder. -   2. Using the same pipette tip, the robot takes about 100 μl of     sample, mixes the lyophilized enzyme and affinity beads, transfers     the reagents to the process tube. Mixing is performed in the process     tube by 5 suck and dispense operations. -   3. The robot places pipette tip #1 at its designated location in the     reagent holder. -   4. Heat the process tube to 60° C. and maintain it for 10 minutes. -   5. After 5 minute of lysis, the robot picks up pipette tip #1 and     mixes the contents by 3 suck and dispense operations. -   6. The robot places pipette tip #1 at its designated location in the     reagent holder. -   7. After 10 minutes of lysis, a magnet is moved up the side of the     process tube to a middle height of the sample and held at that     position for a minute to capture all the magnetic beads against the     wall the tube. -   8. The magnet is brought down slowly to slide the captured beads     close to the bottom (but not the bottom) of the tube. -   9. Using pipette tip #2, aspirate all the liquid and dump it into     the waste tube. -   10. Aspirate a second time to remove as much liquid as possible from     the process tube. -   11. Using the same pipette tip #2, withdraw 100 μl of wash buffer     and dispense it in the process tube. During this dispense, the     magnet is moved downwards, away from the process tube. -   12. Perform 15 mix steps to thoroughly mix the magnetic beads with     the wash buffer. -   13. Wait for 30 seconds. -   14. Move magnet up to capture the beads to the side and hold for 15     seconds. -   15. Using pipette tip #2, aspirate wash buffer twice to remove as     much liquid as possible and dump it back in the wash tube. -   16. Move magnet down away from the process tube. -   17. Place pipette tip #2 in its specified location of the reagent     holder. -   18. Pick up a new pipette tip (tip #3) and withdraw 8-10 μl of     release buffer and dispense it over the beads in the process tube. -   19. Wait for 1 minute and then perform 45 mixes. -   20. Heat the release solution to 85° C. and maintain temperature for     5 minutes. -   21. Place pipette tip #3 in its specified location of the reagent     holder. -   22. Bring magnet up the tube, capture all the beads against the tube     wall and move it up and away from the bottom of the tube. -   23. Pick up a new pipette tip (tip #4) and withdraw all the release     buffer from the process tube and then withdraw 3-10 μl of     neutralization buffer, mix it in the pipette tip and dispense it in     the PCR tube. (In case of two analyte detections, dispense half of     the neutralized DNA solution into first PCR tube and the rest of the     solution in the second PCR tube. -   24. Using pipette tip #4, mix the neutralized DNA with the     lyophilized reagents by 4-5 suck and dispense operations and     withdraw the entire solution in the pipette tip. -   25. Using pipette tip #4, load 6 μl of the final PCR solution in a     lane of the 12-up cartridge.

Real-Time PCR

After all the appropriate PCR lanes of the PCR cartridge are loaded with final PCR solution, the tray containing the cartridge moves it in the PCR Analyzer. The cartridge is pressed by an optical detection read-head against the PCR heater. Heaters activate valves to close either ends of the PCR reactor and real-time thermocycling process starts. After completing appropriate PCR cycles (˜45 cycles), the analyzer decides whether the sample has the target DNA based on the output fluorescence data, and issues an indication of the same.

Example 3 Exemplary Rack

In an exemplary rack for use, in pairs, with a diagnostic instrument, disposable reagent holders (e.g., oriented orthogonally to the front of the instrument) can be contained in one of two, 12-lane racks. The 12 reagent holders in a given rack can register and lock into the rack upon insertion by a user. The rack contains an area for 12 sample lysis tubes and holds the tube bottoms co-planar, thereby allowing the user to orient a bar code on each tube to face the rear of the instrument.

Certain features, permit the racks to be inserted and oriented in the instrument by a minimally trained user. Proper rack placement can be confirmed by feedback to the software. In some embodiments, the racks can be black and color fast (e.g., the color may not appreciably degrade with use or washing with a 10% bleach solution) and the rack material can be dimensionally stable to within 0.1 mm over the operating temperature range of the system. The rack can be designed with provisions to allow the rack to be carried to and from the instrument and to minimize or eliminate the likelihood that the tubes held by the rack will spill when placed on a flat surface.

The foregoing description is intended to illustrate various aspects of the present inventions. It is not intended that the examples presented herein limit the scope of the present inventions. The technology now being fully described, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that many changes and modifications can be made thereto without departing from the spirit or scope of the appended claims. 

1. A method of preparing a plurality of samples for extraction of nucleic acid contained in the samples using a housing comprising a top surface comprising a plurality of slots arranged parallel to an axis between a first side and a second side of the top surface, each of the plurality of slots defining an opening in the first side of the top surface and extending toward the second side of the top surface, the method comprising: sliding a first reagent holder through the opening of a first slot of the plurality of slots; inserting a first sample tube containing a first sample into a first sample tube holder arranged in line with the first slot; sliding a second reagent holder through the opening of a second slot of the plurality of slots; inserting a second sample tube containing a second sample into a second sample tube holder arranged in line with the second slot; and inserting the housing into a receiving bay of a diagnostic apparatus configured to extract nucleic acid from the first sample and the second sample independently.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first reagent holder and the second reagent holder each comprise a process container and one or more reagent receptacles containing reagents.
 3. The method of claim 2, further comprising dispensing the first sample into one or more reagent receptacles of the first reagent holder.
 4. The method of claim 2, further comprising inserting the housing into a heater unit configured to independently heat the process containers of the first reagent holder and the second reagent holder.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein inserting the housing into the receiving bay of the diagnostic apparatus comprises inserting a first process container of the first reagent holder and a second process container of the second reagent holder into a heater assembly and magnetic separator, and wherein the method further comprises heating, using the heater assembly, the first process container of the first reagent holder independently of heating the second process container of the second reagent holder.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the method further comprises separating, using the magnetic separator, liquid materials in the first process container of the first reagent holder independently of separating liquid materials in the second process container of the second reagent holder.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein inserting the housing into the receiving bay further comprises inserting the housing such that the interior of the housing around the location of process containers of the first reagent holder and the second reagent holder has clearance for a heater assembly.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein inserting the housing into the receiving bay further comprises placing the housing in the receiving bay in a single orientation.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein inserting the first sample tube containing the first sample into the first sample tube holder and inserting the second sample tube containing the second sample into the second sample tube holder further comprises inserting the first sample tube and the second sample tube into a dedicated region of the housing.
 10. A method of preparing a plurality of samples for extraction of nucleic acid contained in the samples, the method comprising: inserting a first reagent holder into an opening of a first slot of a plurality of slots of a housing; inserting a first sample tube containing a first sample into a first sample tube holder aligned with the first slot; inserting a second reagent holder into an opening of a second slot of the plurality of slots of the housing; inserting a second sample tube containing a second sample into a second sample tube holder aligned with the second slot; and inserting the housing into a receiving bay of a diagnostic apparatus configured to extract nucleic acid from the first sample and the second sample independently.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the first reagent holder and the second reagent holder each comprise a process container and one or more reagent receptacles containing reagents.
 12. The method of claim 11, further comprising dispensing the first sample into one or more reagent receptacles of the first reagent holder.
 13. The method of claim 11, further comprising inserting the housing into a heater unit configured to independently heat the process containers of the first reagent holder and the second reagent holder.
 14. The method of claim 10, wherein inserting the housing into the receiving bay of the diagnostic apparatus comprises inserting a first process container of the first reagent holder and a second process container of the second reagent holder into a heater assembly and magnetic separator, and wherein the method further comprises heating, using the heater assembly, the first process container of the first reagent holder independently of heating the second process container of the second reagent holder.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the method further comprises separating, using the magnetic separator, liquid materials in the first process container of the first reagent holder independently of separating liquid materials in the second process container of the second reagent holder.
 16. The method of claim 10, wherein inserting the housing into the receiving bay further comprises inserting the housing such that the interior of the housing around the location of process containers of the first reagent holder and the second reagent holder has clearance for a heater assembly.
 17. The method of claim 10, wherein inserting the housing into the receiving bay further comprises placing the housing in the receiving bay in a single orientation.
 18. The method of claim 10, wherein inserting the first sample tube containing the first sample into the first sample tube holder and inserting the second sample tube containing the second sample into the second sample tube holder further comprises inserting the first sample tube and the second sample tube into a dedicated region of the housing. 